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Everywhere you look, there are pumpkin spice lattes, leather boots, and a colorful pageant of vibrant leaves. It must be fall.

For travel nurses, the fall season also means a special holiday, Travel Nurses Day, is near. Created by Medical Solutions, Travel Nurses Day celebrates the hardworking spirit of travel nurses everywhere. This Friday, October 13th is your chance to treat yourself and celebrate your travel nursing career.

Over at Medical Solutions, they’ve started the festivities early. Starting today, you can play games, enter contests, listen to music, and win PRIZES all week long!

Here’s the delightful lineup for Travel Nurses’ Day 2017:

Contests and Games

A #NurseLaughLove Photo Contest on Instagram

Quizzes such as, “Where Should I Travel Next?” and “What’s Your Ultimate Source of Bliss?”

Two sets of fantastically fun Photofinds

Two sets of terrifically tremendous Travel Libs

A Find Your Bliss Playlist to keep you rocking through your special day

Looking for a few good beach reads for your summer travel assignment? We’ve got you covered!

Whether you hanging out at the beach or waiting in an airport terminal for your next flight, a good book can make any travel nurse adventure more fun. So, in the name of summer road trips, we’ve compiled 5 fantastic summer reads for the travel nurse. Happy reading!

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks: In 1951, Henrietta Lacks, a poor black farmer, was dying from cancer. Before her death, some of her cells were removed during a biopsy and cultured without her permission. Henrietta’s cell line, known by scientists as HeLa cells, became the basis for several medical breakthroughs, including the polio vaccine. Today, however, Lacks’ family can’t afford health care. This 2010 bestseller tells an astonishing story where race, science, and ethics collide.

Anatomy of a Super Nurse: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming Nursey: This is a must-read for any recent nursing school grad! Acclaimed blogger and author Kati Kleber, BSN, RN, CCRN, shares her experiences and provides hilarious insights and practical tips on how to survive that crucial first year in the nursing field. Even seasoned nurse veterans will get a chuckle out of Kleber’s storytelling.

The Hospital at the End of the World: Thinking of taking your travel nursing skills overseas? Then you need to pick up The Hospital at the End of the World. This nonfiction narrative describes one nurse’s adventures while teaching for a summer in Nepal. It’s Eat, Pray, Love meets Seven Years in Tibet.

I Wasn’t Strong Like This When I Started Out: True Stories of Becoming a Nurse: This is a collection of short stories about real-life nurses’ experience in the demanding world of healthcare. Several nurses in different stages of their career share their “firsts”, their struggles against burnout, and ultimately what keeps them in the profession. Warning: This book will make you laugh and probably ugly cry.

Outlander: If you’re looking for pure summer escapism, you won’t regret reading Outlander. In this Diana Gabaldona bestseller, WWII British army nurse Claire Randall accidentally travels back in time to 18th century Scotland. While trying to find a way back to her own time and husband, Claire is forced to marry Jamie, a young Highlander. Things get complicated when Claire finds herself falling in love with the Scottish warrior.

Wherever your travel nursing journey takes you this summer, we hope you enjoy these great reads!

P.S. What are you reading this summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Don’t miss out on all the discounts, games, and freebies for nurses! Nurses Week is May 6th – 12th!

Nurses Week is almost here! To help travel nurses everywhere celebrate in style, Travel Nursing Central’s has the following rundown of 2017 Nurses Week prizes, freebies, and discounts:

Medical Solutions is throwing a party for all nurses at WeLoveOurNurses.com. You can join in the festivities by checking out C. Young’s “So Much Love in the Scrubs” music video tribute, take the “What Kind of Party Are You?” quiz for a chance to win fun prizes, and share free Nurses Week eCards with your fellow nurses. Medical Solutions is also giving away some amazing party favors, like 30 $50 Amazon gift cards, Five Amazon Tap Bluetooth Speakers, three Apple iPad Mini 2s, and more! Nursing students are also encouraged to enter the 6th Annual Nurses of Tomorrow Scholarship Contest, which awards three $2,000 scholarships to future nurses.

This year, rejuvenate your passion for nursing with The American Nurses Association’s free webinar on wellness and burnout prevention. The online class is on May 10th.

Fusion Medical is celebrating Nurses Week with daily giveaways on its Facebook page, and a #scrubselfie contest on Instagram and Twiiter. Contest participants have the chance to win a $500 Visa gift card.

Cinnabon is showing their appreciation for nurses with a delicious and well-deserved free treat. During Nurses Week, simply present your medical ID badge at a participating Cinnabon, and you’ll receive your choice of a free Classic Roll, a MiniBon or a four-count of BonBites.

Lippincott’s will once again offer a variety of daily deals, giveaways, and discounts during Nurses Week as well.

Did we miss any Nurses Week activities or events out there? Let us know in the comments below. In the meantime, Happy Nurses Week to all you hardworking nurses!

Rochester, Minnesota, home to the Mayo Clinic, is the No. 1 city for nurses, according to a Sunbelt Staffing study.

The beauty of a travel nursing career is that each assignment and each city are full of different experiences. You love the adventure, but you know as well as anyone that the cost of living across the U.S. varies greatly. So, which cities offer you the most for your career and your wallet?

The answer just might surprise you. Sunbelt Staffing, a healthcare staffing agency, has compiled a list of the top 10 best U.S. cities for nurses. The results are based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, hospital quality scores from Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grade, and the cost of living for cities across the country.

According to the report, each city received a grade based on the number of jobs in the area, a wage score gauging average wage and cost of living for three nursing roles, and hospital quality rankings.

Just in time for this year’s Academy Awards, TNC has nominated 5 Oscar-winning movies that made us want to pack our bags and hit the road! Read on and find inspiration for your next travel nurse adventure!

On your next travel assignment to New York, you could recreate your favorite scenes from Annie Hall.

Annie Hall (New York): This 1977 classic has stood the test of time. As you watch the tumultuous relationship between Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) and Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) unfold, you can’t help but fall in love with the film’s New York City setting. Iconic landmarks such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Beekman Theatre, and Manhattan House take center stage in this critically acclaimed movie. Annie Hall won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture in 1978.

The movie Sideways will have you planning your next travel assignment to the Santa Ynez Valley.

Sideways (California): Middle-aged two best friends decide to road trip through California wine country in this 2004 dramedy. Along the way, the men make different choices, learn life lessons, and grow as individuals. With winding coastal roads and sun-soaked vineyards as a backdrop, this film will make you yearn for the open road and a few bottles of wine. Sideways was nominated for four Oscars, and ultimately won for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The Hawaiian landscapes in The Descendants are swoon-worthy. George Clooney’s acting chops aren’t too shabby either.

The Descendants (Hawaii):The Descendants follows the journey of Honolulu-based lawyer Matt King (George Clooney) who struggles with unexpected family drama in his otherwise dull life. The 2011 film won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, but we think the gorgeous island setting is the real show-stopper.

Even though Scarlett O’Hara’s plantation is a fictional place, you can still visit tons of historical Civil War sites across the South.

Gone with the Wind (Old South): This sweeping Civil War epic almost makes you wish you could travel back in time. Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara (Viven Leigh) loses her heart to Rhett Butler while struggling to maintain her family’s planation in the war-torn South. Shot in 1939, the three-hour-long film was the longest and most expensive film of its time. Gone with the Wind won a then record-breaking eight Oscars.

Who doesn’t love a road trip? Find your travel inspiration as you watch The Grapes of Wrath.

Grapes of Wrath (Route 66):The Grapes of Wrath is a 1940 drama based on John Steinbeck’s famous novel of the same name. Set during the Great Depression, the film details the story of the Joad family as they journey across the U.S. in search of a better life. After watching this classic, you just might be inspired to road trip yourself on the historic Route 66. Widely considered by critics as one of the best films of all time, The Grapes of Wrath won two Oscars in 1941.

What other films have inspired you to travel? Let us know in the comments below!

Reading your travel nursing contract can sometimes leave you with more questions than answers. It’s important to know what you’re signing up for when you agree to a travel assignment.

Your contract is arguably your most important tool to help you navigate the sometimes uncharted waters of your travel nursing career. It can also be the most confusing. Fortunately, Travel Nursing Central is here to help you map out your professional path. We posted some of your frequently asked questions about travel nursing contracts and our answers here. Please keep in mind that our website should not be substituted for legal counsel. Rather, we hope this information helps you become a better advocate for yourself. As always, we recommend that you speak with your recruiter before you sign or break your contract.

Question:“I am on my first assignment in Kentucky. I agreed to this job because the agency and the hospital both made it sound so much better than it actually is. I took a night shift job, which was a huge mistake. I’m not sleeping well, I’m sick 24/7, and I feel depressed and yuck. On top of that, my contract is extremely vague, and things don’t make any sense to me now. I missed a shift, and now they’re taking money away from me. I want out — I’m going through so much and frustrated. Help!”

Answer: “I’m so sorry your first traveling assignment hasn’t been a fun experience. Even though this trip wasn’t everything you’d hoped it would be, you still have options.

In your case, I recommend that you let your recruiter know how you’re feeling about this assignment so far. If your recruiter has your best interests at heart, she or he should be able to reassure you and offer advice on what to do next. Maybe this current assignment is almost done, and you can soon relocate to another hospital with better hours. After all, that’s the positive side of traveling nursing—most assignments are short.

If your assignment is truly unbearable, you can quit, but make sure you read your contract thoroughly so that you understand the consequences. Some contracts have monetary penalties for travelers who end an assignment early. Again, you can always ask your recruiter to go over your contract with you to explain anything that seems vague to you.

For future traveling assignments, I would also suggest thoroughly reviewing any new contract with your recruiter before you sign anything. It’s not always a joy to read all that legal jargon, but, if you do, you won’t ever again be surprised with any unexpected charges or fees. I hope you start feeling better, and enjoy future trips as a traveling nurse soon.”

Question:“I have been at my current travel assignment for almost a year. I have never done travel nursing before this. My travel agency and facility would both like me to renew, but I have heard from different people that you aren’t considered a contract nurse after a year at one facility. My travel agency says this isn’t a problem. What is your understanding of this? I would like to stay at this facility, but I don’t want any surprises if I decide to stay!”

Answer: “You can work at your current facility as long as you like. However, if you decide to stay, you will no longer be eligible to receive a housing stipend or a Per Diem allowance. If you work in the same location for a year, the IRS considers that location as your new permanent tax home. In the eyes of the IRS, you are no longer away from home, so you can’t receive the tax-free money. Whatever you decide, I hope this information helps you in your travel nursing career. Good luck!”

Question:“I am currently fulfilling a contract in California. I was told by my agency that the company I am working for is going to decrease my rate mid-contract. I found out that it was not affecting all travelers on my unit. When I called my agency upset about this rate change, they told me that I could either accept the rate change or my contract would be cancelled. Can they do this?”

Answer: First of all, I’m sorry to hear that this assignment has been stressful for you. I would highly recommend asking your recruiter about your contract. I’m not a legal expert, but they should not be able to change the terms of your contract without consent on both sides and without proper notice. However, there could be provisions in your contract which would allow your agency to the cancel the assignment if you don’t agree. Without reading the specifics of your contract, I believe you have two choices in your current situation. You can accept the change and complete the assignment, or you decline the change and start looking for another position with another agency. Again, I would speak with your recruiter first to fully understand your options before you make any decisions in your current assignment. Thanks for writing and good luck!

There are SO many travel companies out there. It can be daunting for travelers and aspiring travelers to even know where to begin looking for the right fit.

Luckily there are a few sites, such as yours truly, and Highway Hypodermics, which do an annual rankings roundup of the best travel nurse companies around.

The great thing about TNC and Highway Hypodermics’ methodology is that both use actual travel nurses’ reviews to create their lists! Of course, the perfect company can be different for every traveler depending upon what you’re looking for in an agency, benefits, etc. — but these traveler-derived lists go a LONG way in giving you a starting point from which to find your perfect company.

Without further ado, click here to check out Travel Nursing Central’s Top Travel Nurse Companies for 2016.